Automatic ice dispenser



June 11, 1968 1.. c. STENCIL 3,387,750

AUTOMATIC ICE DISPENSER Filed NOV. 17, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. [554/5 C $725104 June 11, 1968 L. c. STENCIL AUTOMATIC ICE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1966 INVENTOR.

3,387,750 AUTOMATIC ICE DISPENSER Leslie C. Stencil, 2205 Clearview Drive, Reno, Nev. 89502 Filed Nov. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 595,216 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-236) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination of an agitator and feeding worm or auger laterally disposed to an agitator wheel for dispensing ice cubes from the top of an ice cabinet so that it rotates in an inclined plane while ice cubes are fed by gravity to a vertically disposed auger tu'be.

The present invention relates to a combination of an agitator and feeding worm or auger for dispensing the ice cubes from the top of an ice cabinet, and more particularly the invention is directed to a particular type of agitator mounted on an inclined base and which therefore rotates in an inclined plane so that there is fed by gravity the ice cubes to a vertically disposed auger tube.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic ice dispensing machine for use by bartenders, soda fountain operators, restaurants, hospitals, or in any location where it is desired to provide a ready access to cube or crushed ice.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ice dispenser apparatus that is constructed to have sanitary qualities as well as constructed to eliminate danger of broken glass being mixed in with the ice dispensing operation, and also to provide means for quickly and readily dispensing chopped or cubed ice.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an ice dispenser apparatus which is made with a water spout that will dispense water with the ice at the same time that ice may be dispensed for use in restaurants where ice water is desired and is a by-product of the cubed or chopped ice manufacture, dispensing, and the like, as well as for use in soda fountains, hospitals, or any other place where ice and water are used, including motels.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from full consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the ice dispenser apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view shown partially in cross-section and in partially broken-away view;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an ice dispenser apparatus including or comprising an ice storage compartment 12 in which there are insulated sides 14, 14.

The bottom wall 16 of the automatic ice dispenser apparatus 10 is also of insulation material, and includes a centrally mounted aperture 18 through which extends a States Patent 0 3,387,750 Patented June. 11, 1968 rotatable shaft 20 driven by a motor 22, and at the other end of the shaft 20 is a rotatable agitator wheel 26. The agitator wheel 26 is inclined as shown, and it is comprised of cubicle recesses or hills and valleys 28, 30, which engage the ice cubes or groups of chopped ice so that the ice material may be brought to a lower position in the ice compartment as the agitator wheel 26 is rotated by the motor 22.

Thus it is seen that the ice that accumulates at the lower position 36 of the ice chamber 12 passes through an aperture 38 of an auger tube 40 as the auger means 44 is rotated by a motor 46. A belt drive 48 connects the motor 46 with the shaft 50 of the auger 44 and drives the accumulation of ice at lower position 36 so that it is lifted up the auger tube 40 to its upper extremity 54 which is the mouth of the auger tube, and terminates in a curved tube portion 56. A tube closure means 58 provides an end means for the auger tube so that the ice is not passed out of the tube prior to the opening of the tube closure means 58. As ice is sought to be collected as it is dispensed, a bucket or other container means is placed under the opening 60 of the auger tube when the tube closure means '58 is opened, and ice is dispensed by rotation of the agitator wheel 26 and the auger 44 in the manner as seen.

To prevent crushed ice and ice cubes from collecting behind the agitator wheel 26, a flange 62, 64, 66, 68 is provided to prevent ice from sliding or falling behind and under the agitator wheel 26. Under the flange or extension 68, there is provided a drip trap 70 which collects the water along the inclined surface 16, and allows it to pass through an opening 72 into a container 74.

The motors 22 and 46 are turned ON by an electric, mechanically actuated switch 78 mounted on the front of the upper portion of the cabinet for the ice dispenser apparatus, and there is also provided a lid 80 with an insulated interior, as shown in 'FIG. 3, so that the lid 80 covers the ice compartment 12. Handles 82 are provided on the ends of the lid 80, andit is hingedly attached by hinge 86.

The motor 22 is shown having a drive belt 88 'connected to a pulley 90 for turning the agitator wheel 26.

Additional embodiments of the invention in this specification will occur to others and therefore it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the appended claims and not by the embodiments described hereinabove. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic ice dispenser comprising an inclined base for an ice cabinet, a centrally mounted agitator wheel disposed on said inclined base to rotate and keep the ice cubes separated and loose and to guide them to a lower position in said ice compartment, an auger laterally disposed to the agitator wheel and within an auger tube vertically disposed within the rear of said ice compartment to lift ice cubes from said lower position vertically to a point above said ice compartment, said auger tube having an opening engaging ice in said lower position of said ice compartment, a lid being provided on the ice compartment and being hingedly connected thereto, said 3 auger tube terminating in a curved tube portion having a closure means therefor at the upper end of said auger tube, a motor being provided to drive said agitator wheel and a motor being provided to drive said auger to dispense ice from said ice compartment through the auger tube to the opening of said auger tube.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein a switch is provided to energize each of said motors simultaneously, said switch being mounted on the cabinet for said ice dispenser apparatus.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,519,664 12/ 1924 Campbell.

1,147,039 7/1915 Murphy 2'21--237 2,435,782 2/ 1948 Higgins 221- 281 2,889,083 6/ 1959 Schwinhorst 222-236 X 3,203,600 8/1965 Wills '22'120O 3,211,338 10/1965 Weil et a1 22270 10 WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner. 

